By Ashley Dean Misho | Arts and Entertainment Reporter
Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sentenced to 50 months in federal prison for charges related to interstate prostitution.
According to federal inmate records, the entertainment mogul is expected to serve roughly three years, with a projected release date of May 8, 2028, after receiving credit for time already served in detention.
Sean “Diddy” Combs, born November 4, 1969, is an American rapper, singer, producer, and actor known for founding Bad Boy Records and for using stage names like Puff Daddy and P. Diddy.
He started his career at Uptown Records before creating his own label in 1993, which helped launch the careers of artists like The Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige. In addition to music, he has built a business empire including a fashion line and has faced recent legal troubles, resulting in a prison sentence in October 2025.
The sentence follows an eight-week trial where Combs was acquitted on more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. He had pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. Combs has been in federal custody since his arrest in September 2024.
Federal prosecutors had sought a much longer prison term of 11 years, citing the nature of the crimes. In addition to the prison sentence, the judge also imposed a $500,000 fine and ordered five years of supervised release. Combs’s legal team has indicated they plan to appeal the sentence.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Combs used his influential status to coerce women into sexual situations with paid escorts. Testimony from his former girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, was a central part of the prosecution’s case.
While the jury did not convict Combs on the racketeering and sex trafficking charges, they found him guilty of violating the Mann Act, a law that prohibits transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution.
Evidence, including bank records, showed Combs paid for sex workers to travel across the country for drug-fueled sexual encounters.
The defense did not dispute allegations of violence against women but framed the case as a matter of domestic abuse rather than a federal trafficking operation.
Combs did not testify during the trial but submitted a letter to the court prior to his sentencing.
In the letter, he expressed remorse, admitting he had lost his way due to selfishness, drugs, and excess, and apologized for the hurt and pain he caused.
At sentencing, the judge told Combs that he had abused his power and control over women he claimed to love, harming them physically, emotionally, and psychologically.
The judge also acknowledged Combs’s role as an inspiration to many and urged him to use this as a second chance to reflect and make things right.
Upon his release, Combs will face strict supervision conditions.
He must meet regularly with a probation officer, refrain from drug use, and submit to regular drug testing. His residence must be approved by his probation officer, who is authorized to conduct unannounced visits. Combs will also be required to enroll in outpatient mental health treatment and a domestic violence program.
Should there be any reasonable suspicion of a violation, he must submit to searches of his person, property, residence, and electronic devices.
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